Vintage Doors and Windows

I have been seeing vintage doors and windows being used as styling props for a while now. The charm and rustic feel they lend is perfect. They are also versatile, which I love. They can be used as escort card displays for weddings, backdrop's for dessert tables, or simply for decorative purposes to name a few. I managed to score 4 fabulous windows at a garage sale this summer for $3 a piece. Now I just need an excuse to use them. I think Olivia's 1st birthday will be just the occasion! Do you like this trend or do you think they are best with the old houses they came from??

Image { Elizabeth Anne Designs }

Image { Style Me Pretty}

Image { Kara's Party Ideas }

Image { Ruffled }

Image { Style Me Pretty }

Image { Jenny Cookies }

Image { Pen & Paper Flowers }

Image { Dwellings and Decor }

{ New Trend } Ombre Ruffle Cakes

I'm going to be honest and tell you that even though my daughter is only 4 months old, I'm already thinking about her 1st birthday. Obsessive compulsive, I know. I have been looking at different styles of cakes and I'm infatuated with ombre ruffle cakes!! The ombre color technique (using many shades of one color to create a faded appearance) is gorgeous and the ruffles...well, how do you not love ruffles?! Here are some images of the fabulous ombre ruffle cakes I have been saving. Isn't the first one by Maggie Austin to die for?!


{Image} Maggie Austin



{Image} Maggie Austin

{Image} Cake by Fondant Flinger via Cake Central

{Image} Eylander Photography

{Image} Cake Central

{Image} Sugar Custom Cakes

{Image} Whipped Bake Shop

{Image} Superfine Bakery

Colored Layer Cake

Have you seen the new trend of coordinating the cake to match your events color palette? These cakes are popping up everywhere from weddings to kids birthday parties, and I think they are simply fantastic! . Here are a few I have seen over the last week. Martha Stewart offers up a quick and easy layer cake recipe and frosting instructions here.


{Image} Amy Atlas



{Image} Attention 2 Detail

{Image} Martha Stewart

{Image} Martha Stewart

Free Baby Shower Printables from HWTM

Jenn from Hostess With the Mostess is offering up her adorable Vintage Sweet Shoppe baby shower collection as free printables!! How great is she?!! Here is the link. She also offers a baby boy version along with party and styling tips here.

Lemon Meringue Pie Shots

I am a big fan of dessert shots. They are cute and offer guests an alternate portion size. I made these chocolate pie shots for my cousins baby shower last year, and they were a huge hit! I was delighted to come across the lemon meringue pie shots below on Honest Cooking. They would make a perfect light summer dessert don't you think? And, what hostess doesn't love a dessert that can be completely or partially made ahead of time?!

{ Image } Honest Cooking

Ingredients
Lemon Curd
■8 egg yolks
■3/4 cup (1,75 dl) sugar
■1/2 cup (1,18 dl or 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
■zest of 2 lemons
■1/2 cup (1,18 dl) lemon juice
Italian Meringue
■8 oz (227 grams) sugar
■2 oz (57 grams) water
■4 oz (113 grams) egg whites
Assembly
■30-35 vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
■24 shot glasses (I found these plastic ones at a party supply store)



Instructions
Lemon Curd



1.Combine the egg yolks, sugar, butter, lemon zest and juice in a medium stainless sleet or glass bowl, and set over a saucepan of barely simmering water.



2.Whisk constantly until lemon curd thickens and reaches 175 degrees F.



3.Remove from heat and let cool, whisking every few minutes to aid cooling.



4.Cover with plastic wrap so the plastic touches the surface of the curd and chill for a few hours or overnight, the curd will continue to set up as it chills.



5.This can be made in advance, you can store it in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or freeze.



Italian Meringue



1.Cook the sugar and water together in a small saucepan over high heat until it comes up to 243 degrees F.



2.When the mixture reaches about 230-235 F, begin whipping the egg whites in a stand mixer on medium-low speed until they are foamy.



3.When the sugar reaches 243 degrees F, remove from heat, and pour very slowly in a steady stream into the whipping egg whites.



4.As soon as all the sugar is incorporated, turn the mixer onto high, and whip until completely cool.



Assembly



1.Place a small amount of crushed cookie into the bottom of each shot glass.



2.Transfer your lemon curd to a pastry bag and pipe a small amount into each glass.



3.Top each glass with more crushed cookies.



4.Transfer your meringue into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip and pipe a big dollop on top of each shot glass.



5.Using a kitchen torch, carefully toast each meringue top until they are golden brown. If you are using plastic shot glasses, be mindful just to toast the tops of the meringues, otherwise you run the risk of melting the plastic.



6.Refrigerate until ready to serve.

My Baby Shower

Since our little sweet pea is almost 2 months old I thought I should finally share some pictures from my Baby Shower. It was just for my family which is quite large and hosted by my wonderful and always helpful mom. We didn't have a specific theme, I just knew I wanted it to be soft and feminine. Everything was perfect and all of the pink was a delightful change from all of the boy colors I've become used to!

The invites, food display cards, and thank you circles were by the always impressive Kori Clark of Paper and Pigtails. We printed out the what's in your purse game on pink card stock and added the bow and pearl embellishments. We also made the pink pomanders using this DIY tutorial from Pizzazzerie. The inspiration for the pink ruffle cake made by my mom came from My Sweet Saucy. This was also my moms first attempt at using Italian meringue buttercream frosting. It was delicious!!! I will never be able to settle for plain buttercream again! The nursery blocks were a gift from my mom, but I loved them so much we decided to use them as decor at the party. They were purchased from Shugabee Lane on Etsy. The take home favors were cupcakes in a jar and they were not only adorable but heavenly!

{ Baby Shower Monday } Sneak Peak from my Baby Shower

Yesterday was my Baby Shower and I haven't had a chance to sort through all of the pictures yet. But, I thought I would share a little sneak peek with you. It was soft, pink, and SO girly.... it was perfect!!! Hope to post more pics soon.

{ Baby Shower Monday } Little Man Shower

I have long been a fan of Little Man parties, so it's no surprise I love this Little Man baby shower from the talented girls over at Icing Designs. It's a perfect theme for anyone expecting a boy. Be sure to check out more photos from this darling shower here.

{ Baby Shower Monday } Bump Smitten

One of the best sources for inspiration is other blogs and websites. Peoples creativity and style continually amaze me. Bump Smitten is a fabulous site full of baby shower ideas, DIY projects, and vendor guides. Here is a sneak peak at some of the showers featured on their site. Be sure to visit their site here to see all the baby shower inspiration they offer!